“The virtues build a new person radiating love to the world.”
— Metropolitan Paul (Yazigi) of Aleppo, who consecrated our temple
“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
— Hebrews 4:15–16
SUNDAY 27th SEPTEMBER. Martyr Callistratus (c 304). Apostles Mark, Aristarchus, & Zenas, of the Seventy (1st). St. Sabbatius, Wonderworker of Solovki (1435). Hieromartyr Anthimus the Georgian, Metropolitan of Ungro-Vlachia (Romania 1716). New Martyr Aquilina at Thessalonica (1764).
“Because the world is forgetting God, my brethren, injustice to neighbour and humanity to the weak prevail.”
— St. Basil the Great
“A Christian lives not for himself alone, but for his loved ones too. It is not enough for you to believe, one must convince others.”
— St. Gregory the Theologian
“For everything you think of doing remember to say ‘God Willing.’”
— St. Paisios the Athonite
TODAY’S GOSPEL. Luke 5:1–11. “So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ But Simon answered and said to Him, ‘Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.’ And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’ For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.’ So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.”
Fish are usually caught in two ways, either by nets or by baited hooks. The nets catch all in their paths while the baited hooks tempt fish with the false reward of food that leads to their capture. In the Gospel we see Christ speaking to the multitude of people from Simon’s boat, a working vessel. The fishermen were about their daily tasks, despite the crowds coming to hear Jesus, for they had spent the night out on the lake and caught nothing but still had to clean their nets.
The forces of evil, like those who catch fish with baited hooks, tempt us by the delights of the world and false promises that lead nowhere. At His command, Simon Peter almost reluctantly casts his net into the lake and all are astonished with the great catch of fish. James and John are caught up to help with bringing the catch ashore. We like the fishermen are called by Christ to become fishers of men and to spread our nets in order that we may bring all to know the love of God. We may feel that our faith is weak, but if we listen to Peter’s reaction to the great haul of fish, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” we should take courage in the words of Jesus who tells Peter and the others not to be afraid for they will catch men. We too are heirs of that promise, as the disciples spread their nets and brought people to Christ, so down the generations others have continued to evangelise and convert countless souls for God.
We live in a world of secularisation that often ignores the reality of God and we should do our best to keep our nets clean ready for the bounteous harvest that awaits us. We are all called to participate but we all have different jobs to do. In this respect the Church needs shepherds, the bishops, priests and deacons and we should encourage and support those who feel called to such a task. In our own little parish we will need priests and deacons now and in the future to minister to our growing flock. Any men out there who feel called should contact one of the priests to test the way forward. Above all let us not be afraid but courageous and let God’s love always be our guidance. May all of us caught in His net be blessed that we may continue His work where we are; for the Holy Land was a little backwater from which the faith spread. We are in this place and this time so that we may be a light in the world of today and share the eternal light of God’s kingdom with all we would capture in a net of love.
Much Love,
Father George.